Gazebo players will put on The Tempest in Walpole's Bird Park this weekend

Wednesday

Jul 31, 2013 at 12:01 AMJul 31, 2013 at 7:41 PM

This weekend, Walpole will have it’s own version of Shakespeare in the Park, when the Gazebo Players perform their rendition of the famous playwright’s last production, “The Tempest.”

Max Bowen

This weekend, Walpole will have it’s own version of Shakespeare in the Park, when the Gazebo Players perform their rendition of the famous playwright’s last production, “The Tempest.”

Director Shelby Speer said the performance, to be held at Bird Park, will be true to the original play, with a few small changes here and there.
“Other than that, it’s fairly faithful to the script,” said Speer, who began working with the group five years ago.

The cast

Speer said she was inspired to work with this play—believed to be the last one written by William Shakespeare—after seeing a recent film version of the story with a female lead. In the original play, the lead character is Prospero, Duke of Milan, but for this performance, Barbara Schapiro of Sharon will be Prospera, now a duchess.

Schapiro said this change will present a softer side to the main character, who has been overthrown and now resides on an island, where she has become a powerful sorcerer. The story follows Prospera’s plot to restore her daughter Miranda to her rightful place with the use of illusion and manipulation.

This is Schapiro’s first lead role, though the works of Shakespeare are very familiar to her. This time, she’s put her skills to the test, memorizing more dialogue than in the past.

“I feel so privileged to recite it and share it with the audience,” said Schapiro.
Ben Medeiros of Jamaica Plain is donning the guise of a villain in the role of Caliban, a monster native to the island on which Prospera lives. It’s his first time as the bad guy, and he said the role was a little hard to get into.

“I just try to draw all the negative energy of my past into the character,” said Medeiros, who typically plays a romantic or humorous character.

The role is also a physical challenge, as Caliban spends most of his time crawling around the stage. Medeiros said he had to stretch before rehearsals.

“I’ve seen productions where Caliban’s the funny character,” said Medeiros. “I wanted to try and draw out the darkness.”

The role of Antonio—exiled brother of Prospera—is being played by Jim Merlin of Medfield. Like Medeiros, he had to rise to the challenge of becoming a character quite unlike those he usually plays.

“I’m usually a gentle character, deadpan humor,” said Merlin. “I’m used to making people laugh on stage. I’m not making anyone laugh here.”
But like his cast-mate, Merlin rose to the challenge, and said he’s enjoying the experience.

“I’m having a good time,” he said.

Ariel is a mischievous spirit loyal to Prospera and only visible to her. She became Prospera’s servant after she frees her from a tree. Claire Lukaczyn of Canton, who plays Ariel, described the character as youthful with a teenage demeanor.

“She wants to be free,” said Lukaczyn. “I’m trying to always be merry.”
Speer described her directing style as a combination of her own plans for the performance, but also seeing what the cast can bring to the table. While some of the actors have performed a number of times, others are newer to the stage.

“The Tempest” has a small cast compared to some of Shakespeare’s other plays, as well as only three locations, a benefit for the players, said Speer.
“I’m focusing on the magic and the whimsy of the production,” said Speer. “I took that idea and molded it into the production you see here.”

“The Tempest” was performed in Medfield and Medway recently.

Performances are free at Walpole‘s Bird Park on Aug. 3 and 4 starting at 5 p.m. For more information and directions visit www.gazeboplayers.com.